Flying-machine.



W. C. CULBERTSON. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.18, 1911.

@noauto/a W. C. CULBERTSON.

FLYING MACHINE. APLIGATION FILED rmm, 1911.

1,002,1 38. Patented Aug.29, 1911.

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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED Emma, 1911.

1,002, 1 38. v Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

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W.' C. CULBERTSON.

\ .FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1911.

1,002,138. Patented Aug.29,l1911.

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1% Lx l WILLIAM C. CULBERTSN, OF RUSHVILIE, INDIANA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Allg. 29, 1911 Application led February 18, 1911. Serial No. 609,419.

To all whomv it may concern:

Be it known that I, vlViLLLaisr C. CULBERT- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rushville, in the county of Rush and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification. A

This'invetin relates to flying machines of the heavier-than-air class, and consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement. of parts hereinafter fully describedand claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings:-F1gure 1 is a side elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention. Fig, 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 'is a front elevation of the machine. longitudinal section through the ,center of the drum and the supporting standards of the car. Fig. 5 is a vdetail vView of the means for turning the drum and locking the same against movement. Fig. 6vis a transverse section, showing the adjustable weight.

Referring to the drawings,I 1 designates a car, comprising a platform provided with suitable launching and landing wheels 2, and on which is mounted the aviators seat 3. Extending upwardly from the car are substantially V-shaped standards 4 suitably braced and provided with bearings 5, which bearings support a drum 6 extending longltudinally in theline of flight land open at each end.` The drum comprises a frame formed of spaced rings 7 connected by longitudinal bars 8,', the front and rear endrings of the drum being formed with hollow bearing sleeves or trunnions 9 journaled 1n the bearings 5, by which the drum is mo'unted to turn or rotate laterally on its trunnions, or in a direction at right angles to the line of flight. Journaled at itsfront and rear ends in the bearing sleeves or trunnions S) is a shaft 10 carrying front and rear driv. ing propellers 11 and 12 "respectively, arranged within the front-V portion of the drum and behind the rear'end'thereof.

Outriggers or side frames 12 project laterally from the opposite sides of the drum and are reinforced therefrom by suitable braces 13. vThese outriggers carry supporting planes 14, properly curved for the dynamical reactions of the air thereon, said planes .being fixedto the drum to tilt or swingvertically when the drum is `turned or partiallv rotated laterally in one direction or'the other.

Fig. 4 is a verticalv The drum forms an air channel, and may be covered with a suitable fabric to operate as a supporting medium. Frames 15 and 16 project forwardly and rearwardly from the front and rear ends of t-he drum and respectively support a horizontal rudder or elevator 17 and the vertical rudder 18. vThe rudder LLis pivoted to swing in a vertical plane and is connected by a link 19 with a bel crank lever 20 coupled by a link 21; to

ever 22, whereby said rudder may be adjusted. The lever is provided with a pawl 23 to engage a rack 24 on the car, whereby it may be locked in adjusted position. The rudder 17 is mounted to swing with the drum and supporting planes, and the operating connections are loosely jointed to permit of such movement. The rudder 18 is mountedupon a vertical shaft to which are suitably connected controlling cords or wires 25, which may lead in practice to a suitable operating device, (not shown) on the car, whereby the rudder may be adjusted for horizontal steering.

The shaft'lO, which 4drives the propellers 11 and 12, is provided with a sprocket wheel .26 connected by a chain 27 with a sprocket wheel 28 on-thtl shaft of a motor 29, supported in a frame 30 arranged above and free from connection with the car, but coupled to the drum for'swinging movement therewith. Through this gearing motion is transmitted to drive the propellers for `propelling the machine forward. In practice, suitable means may be provided for throw# ing thegearing into and out of operation, or the vgearing may be controlled by stopping and starting the motor.

Connected at its ends with the outriggers 12 is a sprocket chain 31 which extends downwardly to and passes intermediately around a sprocket wheel 32 on a longitudinal shaft 33 mounted on a suitable bearing 34 on the car, which shaft 33 has a knuckle joint connect-ion 35 with a rodvor shaft 36 provided with a hand wheel 37, so that by turning said shaft laterally in one direction or the other motion may be imparted to the sprocket wheel 32 to tilt the planes 14 and turn or rotate the drum 6 together asby a link 39 withja treadle lever 40, by which the dog may be retracted. A spring 41 con- 'y nects'fthe dog. with the car and operates to normally hold the dog projected to lock the sprocket wheel against movement.

' In thefoperation of the machine, it will be understood that the propellers will be' 29 yand locking of the dog 38. When the tion as, occasion may require.

dog is retracted, the drum and planes are free` -to turn or swing in a vertlcal plane about the shaft 10 as an axis, and through the resistance set up by the weight of the motor 29 are constantly maintained in a stable position. If any yvertical deiiectio'ns of the planes occur, however, underv strong side gusts of air, the motor will. Serve as a pendulum weight for automatically returning the same to normalV position, thus maintaining an automatic balance. By means of the shaft 36 and the sprocket gearing connecting the same with the drum and planes, said drum and planes may be turned in either direction to adjust` the planes for banking the machine in making a turr ^1 for manually controlling/the stabilizing ac- Swinging motion of the motor may thus be prevented when such motion is not desirable and a prescribed adjustment ofthe planes' is necessary. It will be seen that as the load Weight 1s arranged considerably below the supportf ing surface, a machine having a high degree' of inherent lateral stability` is produced.

Having thus'de'scribed' the invention, I claim i v l. In a flying machine, the combination of a car or platform, a shaft fromwhich the same is pivotally hung, a propeller driven by said shaft, a ldrum extending longitudinally in 'the line of flight and journaled to turn laterally upon the-shaft, supporting planes at the opposite sides of an carried ibythe drum, a motor suspended from the drum and in gear with the shaft, and gearing for turning the drum in either direction laterally.

2. In a flying machine, the combination of acar or platform, a longitudinal shaft from which said car or platform is pivotally suspended, a drum extending longitudinally in the line of flight and journaled to turn laterally on said shaft, supportingA planes at the opposite sides of and connected with the drum, means for turning the drum in either direction laterally including a sprocket chain, a ear for actuating the sprocket chain', an manually operable means for turning the gear.

3. In a flying machine, the combination of sov a car or platform, a longitudinal shaft from which said car or platform is pivotally suspended, a drum extending longitudinally in the line lof flight and journaled-to turn latf erally on said shaft, supporting planes atvthe opposite sides of and connected with the drum, means for turning the drum in either direction laterally including a sprocket chain, aA gear for actuating the sprocket chain, manually operable means for turning said gear, a locking devicel to engage and' hold the'gear from movement, andfmeans for throwing said locking device into andout of action.

4. In a lyingmachine, the comblnation of a car or platform, a longitudinal shaft upon which said car or platform is pivotally suspended, a drum extending longitudinally in the line of flight and mounted to turn laterally upon said shaft, propellers mounted upon the shaft, supporting planes at opposite sides of and carried by the drum, a motor suspended from the drum and in gear with said shaft, and means for turning the drum in eitherl direction laterally and holding the same from turning movement.l

f5. In a flying machine, the combination of la car or platform, a longitudinal shaft from WILLIAM C. CULBERTSON.

Witnesses:

JAMEs T. ARBUGKLE, KATHRYN CARROLL. 

